German American Heritage Center & Museum

05/28/2026

Our newest exhibition, "Shaped by Immigrants: Celebrating 250 Years of the United States," is now on display. We have many artifacts from our collection on display as well as loaned pieces from the Putnam Museum.

This Davenport Turner uniform belonged to Hertha A. (Berg) Vogel-Hildebrand (1906-2004), a life member of the Davenport Central Turner Hall. Her mother was the daughter of German immigrants and was a member of the Davenport Zither Club. Her father immigrated from Schleswig-Holstein and was a Scott County employee for over 25 years. He was also a member of the Turner Singing Society.

In her childhood years, Hertha spent many enjoyable days at Schuetzen Park in Davenport where her father ran the shooting gallery and her mother was the cook. They were actively involved in many German-American activities that were typical of many immigrant families.

Explore more stories about German immigrants, and other immigrant groups and how they have shaped the United States we know it today.

05/27/2026

Sip on lemonade, enjoy live music and shop exclusive deals this Saturday, May 30 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. in Downtown Davenport.

We are participating in Downtown Davenport's FREE Lemonade Sip N’ Shop, where downtown businesses are serving up their own take on lemonade alongside exclusive specials and deals.

Stroll through your favorite shops, sip on lemonade and see what catches your eye. Curbside Concerts will be popping up throughout downtown, so you might just stumble into some live acoustic music along the way.

HOW IT WORKS:
Start your adventure at any of the participating business below where you'll receive...

➡️ Your FIRST cup of FREE lemonade to kickstart your shopping spree

➡️ A map with all participating businesses

➡️ A stamp card: Make a purchase, get a stamp! Collect five stamps and you'll be entered into our Grand Prize Giveaway

➡️ Once you've completed your stamp card, turn it in to any one of the participating businesses

🇩🇪 The German American Heritage Center and Museum is offering:
Drink: Erdbeerfelder – Lemonade with Strawberry Syrup
Special Deal: 10% Off Any Gift Shop Purchase

05/26/2026

Thanks for visiting! Check out JT The Iowa Investigator for neat sites across the State of Iowa.

05/24/2026

05/13/2026

A grant from The American Legion of Iowa Foundation supported our public safety station project for the German American Heritage Center and Museum.

We are grateful for this partnership which enabled us to equip our building with a Cardiac Science Powerheart AED (automated external defibrillator), blood pressure monitor, pulse oximeter, first aid kit, CPR mask, and juice boxes for low blood sugar.

Together, we are more prepared for potential medical emergencies as our National Historic Site welcomes over 12,500 visitors per year for our events/programs, gift shop, museum, and banquet hall. Thank you to The American Legion of Iowa Foundation for making this project possible.

05/06/2026

We want to congratulate the WIU - Museum Studies exhibitions class on the installation of their semester project, Partnerships in Practice: Learning Beyond the Classroom. The students have spent the semester working on developing a big idea, interpretive plan, design, and installation of three new exhibition cases on campus. They chose to highlight 3 local museums, The Figge Art Museum, Putnam Museum, and the German American Heritage Center and Museum. The students researched and shared their development process with guests last night at their opening reception.

We are grateful for our partnership with the Museum Studies program and the work their students complete with us. Some of the items chosen to display were projects completed by past WIU interns which include, education, interpretation, collections management, exhibition curation, and more. We are lucky to have such a vibrant Museum Studies Master's program in our community which is mutually beneficial for the students and so many of our local museums and non-profits.

05/02/2026

It's a beautiful day for our annual Volkswagen Car Show at the German American Heritage Center and Museum! Presented by the Bi-State VW Club, this is a free event with free admission to the museum, too. Stop by until 1pm to see the cars, grab some lunch from the Lunch Wagon, and visit our museum and gift shop. There is also a replica 1926 antique bookmobile on site representing the Friends of the Davenport Library.

05/01/2026

🚗 🇩🇪 Are you stopping by this Saturday, May 2nd for the annual VW Car Show? Admission to the show and the museum is free and open to the public. Food will be available on-site for purchase. See some of Germany's most iconic cars and visit with the owners to hear about the work they've done on these unique cars.

Grab a brat to eat, check out the classic Beetles, Westfalia vans, and kit cars, then step inside the museum to see our historic building and explore our exhibitions. Make sure to check out the view from the 4th floor!

712 W 2nd St.
Davenport, Iowa
Car Show: 10 am - 1 pm
Museum open: 10 am - 4 pm

04/30/2026

🧙‍♀️ Walpurgisnacht, celebrated on April 30th, is one of the most intriguing traditions in German cultural history. Often called the “Night of Witches,” it sits at the intersection of folklore, seasonal celebration, and Christian tradition. Long before it was linked to witches and bonfires, the night marked the transition from winter to spring; a time associated with warmth, light, and new growth.

The name comes from Saint Walpurga, an 8th-century abbess and missionary whose feast day falls on May 1. Over time, her name became connected with existing spring observances. Across Europe, people gathered on the eve of May Day to light fires and celebrate the changing season, blending Christian and older folk traditions into a distinct cultural moment.

is especially rich in symbolism. Bonfires played a central role, both as festive gatherings and as protective rituals believed to ward off evil spirits before the new season began. Folklore also tied the night to stories of witches gathering on mountaintops, adding a darker, mysterious dimension. This blend of seasonal joy and supernatural legend has helped the tradition endure.

Photos: Costumes at a Walpurgisnacht parade.
Crowd on Walpurgisnacht at the Thingstätte on the Heiligenberg in Heidelberg.